Jul 1, 2008 6:46 am US/Mountain
Qwest Union Contract Set To Expire Just Before DNC
Qwest Is Official Telecommunications Provider For Denver Convention
DENVER (CBS4) ―
Qwest Communications said Monday it has a plan in place to fulfill its commitment for providing services to the Democratic National Convention even if union workers strike 9 days beforehand when their current contract expires. Qwest said it doesn't expect a strike to happen.
"We are confident Qwest and the unions will reach an agreement in a timely manner," the company said in a statement. "In the very unlikely event of a work stoppage, Qwest is prepared to meet our commitment to the DNC."
The convention begins on Aug. 25. The Qwest union contract is set to expire on Aug. 16.
As the official telecommunications provider, Qwest is set to provide wireline voice and data services including high speed Internet for the DNCC, the delegates and more than 15,000 members of the media. Qwest will expand the fiber network around Pepsi Center, adding data lines, voice circuits and miles of other cable.
"That is not our intention at all to do anything that would interrupt that convention at all," said Al Kogler, organizing coordinator for the Communications Workers of America.
The CWA represents about 21,000 Qwest workers.
"We settle about 97, 98 percent of our contract negotiations without a strike, but there is the potential," said Kogler.
Qwest workers last went on strike in 1998 for nearly 3 weeks.
"A strike affects the community, our customers, our members, the company," Kogler said. "We don't ever want to go to strike. It's something we always do as an absolute last resort."
Health care and pay increases are expected to be issues in the contract talks. Workers agreed to a pay freeze 5 years ago.
The DNCC declined to comment on the Qwest issue.
The company is also the official telecommunications provider for the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis/Saint Paul the week after the Democratic convention.
Additional Resources
• For complete coverage of the planning for the 2008 Democratic convention in Denver, as well as information about how to volunteer and for a list of helpful links, visit the
Denver 2008 DNC Convention Section.
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